1)First step, cookie dough

1. (complete recipe on how to make the gingerbread cookie dough is gonna be here. Start by browning the butter and allowing it to cool down to use next. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients and in another separate bowl combine all the wet ingredients. Combine wet and dry together and allow the dough to chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
2. On a slightly floured surface roll out the dough and place it on top of a greased pie dish or soufflé dish. Preheat the oven to 180 C or 350 F.

2)Second step, bake crust

1. Bake the crust on a preheated oven to 180 C ( 350 F ) for about 15 minutes.

3)Third step, custard

1. To make the custard start by peeling a lemon ( we only want the yellow part of it so make sure to scrape off as much white part as you can after peeling it). In a saucepan, combine milk, the lemon peel, a cinnamon stick and granulated sugar. Heat the mixture over medium heat to boil.
2. In a separate heat resistant mixing bowl whisk together cornstarch and egg.

4)Forth step, custard

1. Once the milk boils, gradually pour it into the egg mixture while whisking continuously. Then, pour the combined mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over medium – low heat stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula. Continue to cook the custard until it thickens and coats the back of the spoon. This will take about 4/5 minutes.

5)Fifth step, sieve the custard

1. Once thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat. Pour the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, this will remove any lumps and peels and ensure a smooth texture.
2. Cover with plastic wrap to prevent a skin forming on the surface. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard ( yes, it’s safe. No, it’s not gonna melt ). Let it cool at room temperature.

6)Sixth step, apple

1. Start by washing and peeling the apples. Remove the core and slice them into thin even pieces, or small cubes. In a saucepan, add the sliced apples, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon and butter. Cook over medium heat stirring to make sure it doesn’t burn. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the apples are soft. You can cook them for less time if you don’t like soft apples.
2. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the apple filling to cool completely.

7)Seventh step, build the apple pie

1. To build the gingerbread apple pie, pour the custard mixture over the crust, spreading it evenly. Then, add all the apple filling on top/

8)Eight step, top crust

1. Roll out the dough and cut strips using a chef knife for straight cuts. Place half of the strips horizontally over the filled pie. Space them even apart allowing some filling to peek through. Take one of the remaining strips and lay it vertically over the first horizontal strip. Fold back the first horizontal strip on one side to create and opening. Place the vertical strip down and then unfold the horizontal strip over it. Repeat this process alternating the strips by folding back the relevant horizontal strips to wave the lattice. Continue until the pie is covered.

9)Ninth step, bake

1. Once the lattice is complete, trim any excess dough from the edges. Seal the edges together. Using a gingerbread man cookie cutter carefully press in the middle of the pie and cut the shape to make a hole.
2. Using the extra cookie dough make a gingerbread man cookie and place it right on top of the hole to cover it. Bake the gingerbread apple pie in a preheated oven at 180 C ( 350 F ) for about 30 minutes or until you see the top crust a golden brown color.
3. Remember that we had already baked the bottom crust, the custard is cooked and safe to eat and the apple filling is cooked too so, we just need to bake the pie together and the top crust to be nice and golden brown.